Premier of new film on Filipino effort to save Jews

A new film, “Open Door,” was shown for the first time in Israel on Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at the Cinematheque in Tel Aviv. Father David Neuhaus, Latin Patriarchal Vicar attended the event.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel and the American Jewish Committee hosted together the premier of the new film, entitled “An Open Door, Holocaust Haven the Philippines”. The film, directed by Filipino award winning director, Noel Izon, tells the untold story of how Filipino President Quezon and Jewish organizations created a haven in the Philippines for over 1300 Jewish refugees, fleeing the Shoah, during the Second World War.

The moving documentary is based upon the testimonies of the last remaining Jewish survivors, members of the Quezon family and others, who recount the generosity of President Manuel L. Quezon, who sought to welcome many more Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Europe. The event of the premier also marked sixty years of Israel-Filipino diplomatic relations.